Am I getting Hosed?

I bought my new 2000 S from a dealer 200 miles away from where I live
in April 2001. After an unsatisfactory experience with the initial
15K maintenance from the local Porsche dealer, the dealer I purchased
my car from agreed to give a 10% discount on all service as an
incentive to drive the 200 miles to have them do it.

I am now approaching 150K on the vehicle and I have had this dealer do
all scheduled maintenances, repairs, as well as new tires and
alignment with every 30K maintenance. I have 18" rims and always go
with Pirelli P-Zero tires. Each time I had a service done I asked if
my discount was included. The first few times they would manually
mark down the ticket 10%, but for the past couple of years they have
assured my the discount was included. As I had built up a level of
trust (always the same people, zero turnover) I took their word for it
and didn't check the numbers.

Last week I took the car in for a new rear tire, two front tires, and
an alignment (I had to replace one of the rear tires 2 weeks earlier
at a local tire store). My bill was $1191, and this didn't seem
right, so I questioned if the 10% discount was included. Once again I
was assured it was. The alignment itself was billed out at $385, and
I questioned that, stating that I thought alignment was more in the
$250 range. I was told the normal price for alignment is $420. When
I got home I checked my prior service records, and sure enough, I had
been billed $240 for alignment at 90K but had been billed $385 for
alignment at 120K (my service records for prior to the 90K maintenance
are in storage). Also, the prices charged for the same tires are
varying from $210 to $305!

So, what do most dealerships charge for an alignment? Are
independents properly equipped and trained to do alignments a 2000
Boxster S? If so, what is their typical charge? Do most of you buy
your tires from the dealer? What about buying tires over the internet
and having a local tire shop install them?

Also, is there a guide as to how many hours should be charged for
secluded maintenances (and maybe other repairs also)? If so, this
dealer has a posted labor rate of $69.50 per hour, is that in line
with other Porsche dealerships?

Thanks in Advance for your help.

Bill

Bill Branum wrote:
 >
 > Also, the prices charged for the same tires are
 > varying from $210 to $305!

I have P Zero Rossos on a 2002 996, and the rears (285/30-1 are about
$300 each.
 >
 > So, what do most dealerships charge for an alignment? Are
 > independents properly equipped and trained to do alignments a 2000
 > Boxster S? If so, what is their typical charge? Do most of you buy
 > your tires from the dealer? What about buying tires over the internet
 > and having a local tire shop install them?

We have two Porsche dealers in our locale - one does tire sales and
installs in house, the other sends the work out. I bought my first set
of rears from my dealer, who does the work in house. His price was
better than the shop the other dealer uses, but not as good as a well
known national chain store also in the area. I went with the dealer on
the theory that they specialize in my car ( and there was other service
being done as well). The dealer scratched both wheels, but also replaced
the damaged parts when I pointed it out to them. I've used the national
chain store frequently for other cars and have usually been happy, but I
also suspect they tweaked the frame of one car due to sloppy positioning
on the lift, although I can't say for sure. If you opt to buy over the
internet, make sure the "local tire shop" knows what they're doing.
 >
 > Also, is there a guide as to how many hours should be charged for
 > secluded maintenances (and maybe other repairs also)? If so, this
 > dealer has a posted labor rate of $69.50 per hour, is that in line
 > with other Porsche dealerships?

My dealer (San Diego County, California) has a posted labor rate
slightly over $100 an hour.....
 > Thanks in Advance for your help.
 >
 > Bill
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